The monarchy
Leaving aside for the moment how ridiculous it is that we have a head of state who gets this sumptuous life of luxury just because of whose vagina they squeezed through.

What I really fail to grasp is the adoration. How I'm expected to give this person deference and respect that's utterly unearned. How crowds of people stand for hours, cheering and waving, in the hope of getting a glimpse of the undemocratic anachronism that is our royal family. They stand there in the rain, looks of joyous and fervent adoration on their vapid, cow-like faces.

The French had the right idea.
(thefuckestuppest cheapened this, on, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 12:52, 13 replies)

The French had the right idea?
What, you mean peeing in the street, smelling of onions and torturing ducks and geese?
( The magic of chutney Shakes it like an Instagram filter!, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 12:58, closed)

Yes
And the head chopping off thing
(thefuckestuppest cheapened this, on, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 13:14, closed)

I agree, I feckin' hate the lot of them
and love saying so. And calling them leeches and scroungers, that goes down well too.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 13:16, closed)

You could always do what they do in the Netherlands, and drive a car through the adoring crowd.
Although, I must admit that last vagina was quite an awesome passage. I'm not sure if it was adoration or a good perve in her case. Oh well, she was a good lemming.
(stuntsmile, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 13:52, closed)

What's the alternative?
Give the same kind of adoration to a president, like so many Americans do with Obama?
( idonthaveafunnynickname Drink-Aware? Sure. I'm aware I want another drink., Tue 20 Oct 2009, 14:10, closed)

what...
... Napolean?
(haberman is singing in the changes, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 14:42, closed)

Ever spent time in other countries?
Most of the hatred of the royal family is based around jealousy: "Why are these bastards entitled to what they haven't earned?"

Put that aside for a moment and think about this: Our nation is shit. Third most obese in the world after the US and Mexico, lowest quality of life index in Europe before the former Eastern Bloc countries -- we can't manufacture anything anymore and we can't even stop our fucking Call Centres going to Asia.

Yet - if you travel, then Britain is still perceived as a rock of tradition in a world of fickle change, a major player, and as the cradle of European civilisation. This is particularly so in the Far East (how many times in China do you hear "Ah, Englishmen...they gentlemen") and in the Americas. Our adherence to tradition elevates our wank country to a perceived league position which it doesn't deserve, and the Royal Family is the standard bearer of those traditions. The Chinese love it. The Germans love it. The Singaporeans love it. The Yanks cream their fucking chinos over it. Our Royal Family is always on the cover of their popular gossip magazines. When did you last see Hu Jintao on the cover of "Hello"?

This kind of advertising costs us £35m (about 60p each, a year). Considering Ford spent a billion advertising the Ka, I think that's a good deal. Don't wish for the Royal Family to be abolished just because you are jealous of their wealth -- it's not the right reason, and if you get what you wished for, it might well be a step downwards for us all.
(Super Jet Shoes, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 14:45, closed)

I don't think anybody's ''jealous of their wealth''
And that's maybe a very childish way of ending a pretty sound argument.
But i agree with the OP.
It's archaic,unnessesary and a waste of money. The last reminants of a better past.People argue it generates tourist dollars but i'm sure tourists would come anyways, i mean they don't just come in the hope of catching a glimpse of the Queen; Buck palace would still be there along with all the other landmarks etc.
Lastly - Head of a christian church? Whats that all about? All people created equal and all of that....
Also - because they're occasionally on the cover of ''hello'', as you pointed out, that does not count as an argument to keep the monarchy.

I'm Irish though so i'm biased.
(BarryChuckle, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 15:04, closed)

^ this

(thefuckestuppest cheapened this, on, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 15:15, closed)

True enough
The "Hello" comment is just an anecdote to demonstrate that people outside of Britain have an genuine, popular interest in the affairs of our monarchy.

I agree it is archaic - but I believe that is its value, since its longevity suggests stability. I reckon (purely from hearing the opinion of others from far away places) that this is one of the few remaining attractions that our under-educated, overweight and over-aspirational country still has. As for being a waste of money, I really can't agree -- the money is peanuts, really. £35m a year isn't a lot of money for a nation (about £20m less than Simon Cowell's annual income). If redistributed it would be sponged up in a second as noise money.

And it's not about tourist revenue. That may be dented, but as you say, people would still come. It's about persuading other nations of the value and status of our country for commerce, diplomacy, investment, education, banking.

It's difficult to measure, unfortunately. But I just wonder what would be better if we had no monarchy?
(Super Jet Shoes, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 15:27, closed)

I don't think
that 'commerce, investment, education, banking' is affected one tiny bit by the Monarchy. Maybe diplomacy alright. You're probably right in that not much would be really 'better' without them and they are, in effect, harmless BUT in keeping with the QOTW it pisses me right off and sometimes makes me genuinely furious if i think about it for too long.They're bastards in my eyes. And their manic, ultra-royalist followers are bigger bastards with their Diana plates and Queen Liz tea-towels.
(BarryChuckle, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 16:06, closed)

You're wrong about commerce and tourism especially and the money it brings in
Which is fuckloads, primarily from commonwealth partners who would otherwise buy their machinery/chemicals/weaponry from the US or China. The Royals give them a link (and often possibly legitimacy).

To be honest I feel more sorry for them than anything. Born to HAVE to do anything is a fairly limiting existence and one that takes some guts.

Really, would you live a life pre-ordained for a few million quid (that isn't even yours)?

For me I would ban it, not because of the silver spoon aspect but because it's the human equivalent of a zoo.
(prescottsflu infected you at, Wed 21 Oct 2009, 9:35, closed)

Without a monarchy - who'd be on our stamps?
Simon Cowell probably..
(danniekavanagh did nothing constructive on, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 16:24, closed)